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Should Warner miss the tour of India, it would allow fit-again all-rounder Shane Watson to slot back into his favoured opening position.

Watson has been riddled by injuries over the past few years, and is now keen to return to the Test arena purely as a batsman in order to avoid any more niggles.

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Warner’s injury could prove to be good news for Ed Cowan, whose spot at the top of the order had come under question in recent times following his lean run with the bat and Watson’s desire to return as an opener.

Should 26-year-old Warner require a lengthy stint on the sideline, it would be a big blow to Australia, who are keen to start settling their side in all forms of the game.

Warner, one of the most explosive hitters in world cricket, has averaged 44.5 from 15 Tests, 30.37 from 38 ODIs and 28.71 from 44 T20Is.

Meanwhile, Australia will be aiming to add to the pain of Chris Gayle’s dismal summer when the one-day series against the West Indies starts on Friday at the WACA Ground.

Gayle endured a nightmare T20 Big Bash campaign for the winless Sydney Thunder, scoring just 72 runs at an average of 12 over his first six innings before cracking 65 in the final game.

Despite Gayle’s poor return in the Big Bash, Australia haven’t been lulled into a false sense of security, with wicketkeeper Matthew Wade and paceman Mitchell Johnson labelling the hard-hitting left-hander as one of the West Indies’ biggest threats.

‘‘He’s dangerous wherever you bowl to him. He’s shown over a long period of time he can take any attack down,’’ Wade said of Gayle, who has failed to pass 35 in his past eight ODIs.

‘‘Every time you play against Chris Gayle, you’re hoping to get him out early.

‘‘It would be nice if we could do the same over these next five one-dayers.

’’After struggling against Sri Lanka this summer, Australia are desperate to record a comprehensive series win over the West Indies.Sri Lanka drew the one-day series 2-2, before beating Australia in both T20 encounters.

‘‘We need to go out there and really dominate the West Indies,’’ Johnson said.

Australia skipper Michael Clarke, who missed the final ODI against Sri Lanka due to an ankle injury, batted in the WACA nets on Wednesday and is almost certain to play on Friday.